Inhaler.



No. 669,098. Patented Mar. 5, IBM.

T. T. OVERSHINER.

l N H A LE B (Application filed my 26. 1900.)

(No Model.)

WlTNlSSES INVENTOR JJW {6' g I I Attorney TH: nonms PETERS ca. moradma.wuumcrorw, u. c

llivrrnn STATES *n'rnnr FFICE.

TIMOTHY TAYLOR OVERSHINER, OF MARION, INDIANA.

INHALER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 669,098, dated March 5,1901.

Application filed May 26, 1900. Serial No. 18,140. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that LTIMOTHY TAYLOR OVER- SEINER, a resident of Marion, inthe county of Grant and State of Indiana, have in vented certain new anduseful Improvements in Inhalers; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to an improved inhaler, one object of the inventionbeing to provide an inhaler which will cling to the nostrils of the userand which will be so constructed that only air inhaled will bemedicated, thus greatly saving the medicine employed.

A further object is to provide an inhaler which will be especiallyadapted for use in dusty or unhealthy atmospheres and which willabsolutely protect the lungs from dust and impurities of any sort.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, aswill be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View illustrating myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a view of the inhaler detached. Fig. 3 is a viewin section of the same. Fig. 3 is a View of the medicine-tube detached,and Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are views of modified forms of my invention.

My inhaler comprises two soft-rubber nasal tubes or nipples A, connectedat their lower ends by a block of elastic material 1, adapted to pressthe upper ends of the tubes or nipples together and clamp the cartilageof the nose between them and support itself in proper position for use.The block of elastic material and the nasal tubes are preferably moldedintegral or they may be secured together as desired. A small tube 3,preferably of glass, having a peripheral flange a at each end, isdisposed in the lower end of each tube or nipple A and is adapted tocontain medicine inclosed in the tube by means of small pieces of clothb,secured over the flanged. ends of the glass tube, and a rubber sheet0,

having flaps d at opposite sides, secured over the upper flanged end ofthe glass tube, constitutes a valve, which will be raised from the tubewhen air is inhaled therethrou'gh, but which will be forced down on topof the tube and prevent any air exhaled from passing through the tube,as will be readily understood. Each nipple or nasal tube A is cut in itsside wall to form a flap-valve 4 for a purpose which will now beexplained.

When the patient desires to use my improved inhaler, he pulls the upperends of the tubes or nipples A apart and inserts them in the nostrils,and when they are released the elastic block 1 will force the upper endsof the nipples or tubes toward each other and clamp the cartilage of thenose between them and support the inhaler in proper position, and owingto the fact that the nasal tubes are of soft rubber they can be insertedfar enough and will conform to the shape of the nostrils to entirelyfill them. When air is inhaled, it will be drawn through the lower endof the nasal tubes, through the medicine in the glass tubes 3 and becomethoroughly impregnated with medicine, raise the valves 0, and pass intothe lungs, the valves 4 at the same time closing to prevent the entranceof air through the walls of the tubes"; but when the air is exhaled thevalves 0 will close the passage through the tubes 3 and compel the airto force the flap-valves 4 outward and escape through the side walls ofthe nipples, thus carrying practically no medicine with the air exhaled.

\Vhen my improved inhaler is to be used in dusty or other injuriousatmospheres, the glass medicine-tubes can be removed and a packing 0rfilling of absorbent or suitable medicated body inserted in the tubes.

Instead of constructing my improved inhaler as above described I mightmake the same as shown in Fig. 4. In this form of my invention I providea coil of wire around the lower end of each tube to secure an M shapedspring 2 in place to press the upper ends of the nasal tubes toward eachother; or I might connect the tubes by cross-wires 5, as shown in Fig.5, to form springs to press the upper ends of the nasal tubes towardeach other; or I might provide the lVl-shaped spring with finger-loops6, as shown in Fig. 6, to facilitate separating the upper ends thereof;or I might at its ends and connected with the respective nasal tubes byclamping-springs 9, as shown in Fig. 7.

Various other slight changes might be resorted to in the general formand arrangement of the several parts described without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I would have itunderstood that I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth,but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes andalterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. An inhaler comprising two tubes ofsoft pliable material to render them conformable to the shape of thenostrils of the user, a valve in the wall of each of said pliable tubes,and an elastic device normally pressing the forward ends of said tubestoward each other.

2. An inhaler comprising two soft-rubber nasal tubes or nipples, a blockof elastic mate rial connecting said nipples or tubes and adapted topress them toward each other at one end and a medicated body in eachtube or nipple.

3. An inhaler comprising two soft-rubber nasal tubes or nipples, anelastic device normally pressing the tubes toward each other at one end,a medicated body in each tube or nipple and an outlet-valve forming aninte gral part of the wall of each tube or nipple.

4. An inhaler comprising a soft-rubber nipple having a portion of itswall cut and forming an integral outlet-valve and a valvedmedicine-receptacle located in said nipple below said outlet-valve.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

TIMOTHY TAYLOR OVERSHINER.

Witnesses:

PEARL STRATTON, CLARA OVERMAN.

